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Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller a rare power generator

Von Miller, bringing down Chargers QB Philip Rivers last weekend, has 24.5 sacks in just two seasons with the Broncos. Joe Amon, The Denver Post

It's a tossup, a tie of sorts, about what is more difficult.

To find a player like Von Miller, a once-in-a-remember-when combination of speed and power, or to describe how the 237-pound Miller runs around or over blockers of all shapes and sizes to do what he's done so far in his young NFL career.

"He's just, I don't know, I don't know what's the best way to describe it, he's just naturally strong," said Broncos coach John Fox, now in his third decade in the NFL. "Some people do it with length, with their reach. Some people do it with leverage — great hands and great leverage. Some guys do it with speed.

"Von does it with sheer everything."

Miller does it as Newton's Second Law in shoulder pads, his uncommon force created by mass and double-take acceleration.

"He's just a tremendous athlete. He can take speed to power, has the reach. He's perfected more moves this year in the pass rush," Fox said. "And he has that knack, and I do think there's a little bit of kinesthetic sense about what he wants to do. I really don't ever like to compare, but I don't know if I've been around anybody as fast or as strong as he is together."

Miller entered the week ranked second in the league in sacks (13) and first in tackles for loss (23) as Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio's impact chess piece. A selection of Miller's most recent work shows how he is able to overpower players who often are nearly 100 pounds heavier than him.

• Broncos vs. Carolina, 3:28 left in the third quarter. Third-and-2 at the Panthers' 30-yard line.

With the Broncos in their nickel package (five defensive backs), Miller was in a three-point stance at left defensive end.

As Carolina right offensive tackle Byron Bell chose to block down inside, tight end Greg Olsen was left with Miller. Olsen only got a piece of Miller as Miller launched himself off the snap into the gap between Olsen and Bell.

Miller then plowed into the Panthers' 248-pound quarterback, Cam Newton, like an express bus. On the CBS broadcast of the game, analyst Phil Simms said: "This is just a flush, hitting maybe the biggest quarterback in the NFL and stopping him dead in his tracks."

• Broncos vs. San Diego, 14:10 left in the third quarter. Third-and-12 at the Chargers' 49-yard line.

With the Broncos playing seven defensive backs, Miller was standing up at left defensive end.

At the snap, Miller charged directly at San Diego's 320-pound right tackle, Jeromey Clary, and made a small, eye-blink feign toward Clary's inside shoulder. As Clary started to move in that direction, Miller drove both of his hands into Clary's chest.

Miller then discarded Clary to his right, sprinted around Clary's outside shoulder and sacked Philip Rivers, knocking the ball free.

"He does things not many guys can do," said Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. "I'm not sure he's like anybody I've every played with. I think what separates the real talented guys from the great professional football athletes is doing it over a long course of time, being consistent, and he has a chance to do that."

• Broncos vs. Carolina, 12:22 left in the first quarter. Third-and-4 at the Panthers' 44-yard line.

With Broncos in their nickel package, Miller was lined up off the line of scrimmage on the defensive left.

Denver's defensive front, including Elvis Dumervil, flushed Newton from the pocket. Newton then began to move toward the open space to his left. Miller, moving with Newton, came from 5 yards off the line of scrimmage to tackle Newton for a 6-yard loss.

Kansas City Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel was asked this week how Miller is able to generate so much power in his game. Said Crennel, who has been coaching in the NFL since 1981: "Because he also has speed, and there's this term in football that says speed kills. Speed forces other players to do things that they don't normally do. So if Von lines up outside and I know he's rushing the passer and I know he has speed, I had better get back or he's going to run past me."

Added Crennel, whose team hosts the Broncos on Sunday: "So, in trying to get back (as an offensive lineman) to get set to keep him from running by me, he turns into me to power me because I'm not set. He uses that combination of speed and quickness, and he's got that knack of knowing when to spin, when not to spin, when to go to the power rush off of his speed. That makes him a very effective rusher and a very good player."

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